EMMANUEL PETIT SAYS HARRY KANE'S BALLON D'OR CHANCES ARE OVER

Emmanuel Petit, former Arsenal and France midfielder, has stated that Harry Kane's prospects of winning the Ballon d'Or have ended following England's World Cup campaign. Petit said Kane "disappeared when the biggest games came", despite scoring goals in the tournament. He added that several other players were ahead of Kane in contention for the award. Petit's comments came after England reached the World Cup semi-finals before losing to Argentina in dramatic fashion.

Argentina scored twice in the final 10 minutes to overturn Anthony Gordon's opening goal and eliminate England from the competition. The defeat extended England's wait for a major tournament victory to 60 years. Thomas Tuchel's side came under scrutiny following the loss, with criticism directed at both the manager's tactical approach in the latter stages and the performance of individual players. Petit noted that whilst Kane scored "plenty of goals" and could make a case based on his Bundesliga performances, his performances in the Champions League and for England did not justify Ballon d'Or consideration.

The Ballon d'Or is often awarded to a player from the winning World Cup team, though this year's race has been described as unusually open given the composition of the winning squad. Petit's assessment reflects broader debate among observers regarding which England players bore responsibility for the semi-final exit. Kane continues to play for his club whilst England prepares for future tournaments.